Although in theory only the pilots’ tables and the Medstaff tables were reserved for the exclusive use of particular groups, people still tended to sit with those they had something in common with, whether friends, family, or colleagues. Brenda usually sat with her children, but today they were eating with their training groups, so she was sitting with some of the other DJ’s. Not that there was a formal “radio table,” but she’d noticed several other people passing them by, even when there were empty seats.
Because who wants to sit here and listen to us talk shop and not understand half of what we’re saying.
Brenda could understand the feeling, since she wasn’t all that strong on the technical side of streaming Internet radio herself. Lou Corlin was talking about some issues IT was having with the streaming server. Nothing critical, nothing that would disrupt transmission, but still something that was obviously of concern. However, a lot of it was going over her head, for the simple reason that she wasn’t an IT specialist.
And it looked like she had some company. Sprue was trying not to look overwhelmingly bored, but he wasn’t doing nearly as good a job of it as he thought.
Recalling something Drew had mentioned, Brenda caught his gaze. “So how are things going with the new project of yours? Did you finally get to talk to Chandler?”
Sprue’s expression became awkward. “I’m not really supposed to be discussing it in a public place like this.” He extended a hand to encompass the dining commons, the crowd of people sitting at the tables or moving between them. “But Chandler did have a few ideas for things we might want to look at. You know, ways of analyzing data to tease out a little more meaning.”
He said “we.” Is he finally figuring out what it means to actually work as part of a team, or is he just saying that because Dad or Dr. Doorne put the fear of God in him for a change?
However, there was no time to ponder it, let alone ask any probing questions. Right then Captain Waite came in and took his place at the head table. Except he didn’t sit down to eat. Instead, he addressed the crowd: “If I may have your attention, I have some important announcements to make.”
Brenda’s gut clenched with anxiety. What was going on now?